A woman has been charged in connection with a crash that killed an Aberdeenshire pensioner.
Jim Lyall was taken to hospital under police escort after he was knocked down on a pedestrian crossing in Inverbervie last November.
The 82-year-old later died from his injuries.
Last night a Crown Office spokesman confirmed a 37-year-old woman had appeared in court in connection with the incident.
Emily Arbuthnott, of Arbuthnott House, near Laurencekirk, faces a charge of death by careless driving.
She made no plea or declaration during a brief private hearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, and was released on bail. A date for her next appearance has not yet been set.
It is believed Mr Lyall was on his way to the beach for a walk when the accident happened on Bervie’s King Street, near the post office, on November 5 last year.
The tragedy left the close-knit community in shock, with many of the grandfather’s neighbours paying tribute to him.
One friend, who lived opposite him, described the widower as a “good friend and neighbour”, while another said he was a “lovely man”.
Known for his love of the outdoors, Mr Lyall worked as a milkman for Nicolson’s Dairy and a farm worker at nearby Pitcarry Farm before retiring.
He went for regular walks along Bervie beach, and his neighbours said he liked birds, fishing and shooting.
After the accident, one local businesswoman admitted she was surprised there had not been an accident at the crossing.
She said: “A lot of people have said that the crossing is in the wrong place, it shouldn’t be so close to the corner. It’s very difficult to see.
“There should be a proper crossing, especially for the kids coming out the school. It’s a very busy road.”
